Organizational Capacity and Implementation of Water Projects in Homa Bay County, Kenya

Abstract

Water projects face susceptibility to diverse challenges, potentially resulting in cost overruns, construction delays, and adverse alterations in scope. Despite the obstacles, enhancing organizational capacity could potentially alleviate some of these challenges. The purpose of the study was to determine the influence of organizational capacity on implementation of water projects in Homa Bay County, Kenya. Specifically, the study was on the influence of project planning, technical, human resources, and financial management capacities on water project implementation in Homa Bay County, Kenya, drawing on the theory of constraints and prospect theory. Adopting a descriptive research design, the study population was 336 individuals comprising 42 Contractors, 42 Project Engineers, 42 Project Managers, and 210 Project Management Committee members. Using Slovin's formula, the sample size was determined as 183. Proportionate stratification was carried out for each group to determine the distribution of participants across the four groups. Pilot testing was done using 34 persons drawn from 5 water projects in Kisumu. This small sample of participants was similar to the target population. Self-administered questionnaires were used for data collection, with analysis conducted through descriptive statistics. The study indicated that project planning capacity positively contributes to the implementation of water projects. Further, technical and financial management capacities were identified as having a positive influence in the successful implementation of water projects in Homa Bay County, Kenya. However, the study notes that human resource management capacity, while positive, had an insignificant effect on project implementation. The study recommends that project implementers should enhance employees' technical skills and recommends comprehensive training, development, performance management, recruitment, and selection processes. It also recommends prioritizing proper budgeting, procurement, internal controls, and improved managerial practices, including thorough needs assessment, project design, and stakeholder engagement, to optimize the implementation of water projects in Homa Bay County, Kenya.